Television. Otherwise known as that colorful, animated world that we are separated from by merely a thin screen.

A world of endless stories and boundless emotions.

For decades this mysterious rectangular shaped object has let us live vicariously. It has naturally become a staple in our daily lives—an escape from reality, a way to connect with someone else. A source of news and entertainment. Television has become this object, this experience, this thing that many of us can no longer live without.

How did we get here? How did television find such a meaningful place in our minds, bodies and souls?

The story of television’s rise is a worthy tale to tell—it is a story at the heart of the digital revolution. Understanding television’s evolution is not only evidence of technology’s mark on modern society, but it grants us a glimpse at what the future of our digital society may hold.

After all, they say that both television and Internet were the causes of print journalism’s remarkable decline. They say, now, that the newspaper is near its death. This makes us wonder—will Internet itself trigger the death of television? With the Internet’s force growing at every second, there is already evidence that makes us question television’s future. The TV industry that exists today may be at serious risk.

We are here to speculate on the changes that the industry will be facing—particularly in light of the Internet and the many emerging means of obtaining television. On Demand, Netflix, Hulu, DVR—the choice is yours.

How do we define television in the modern context then? We must first begin by looking at the American television industry and understanding how it began. Continue reading →